Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-11-26
REV.tDR. TALMAGE.
rHE BROOKLYN DIVINEs SUNDAY
SERMON.
9 subject. Defense Of Young Menu

OOCuCQ
the young man. I'LL Kings vi, H.
One morning in Dothan a young thcologi-
cal student was scared by finding himself and
Elisha, the prophet, upon whom he waited,
surrounded by whole army of enemies But
venerable Elisha was not scared at all, be-
cause he saw the mountains full of defense
for him, in chariots made out of fire, wheels
OF fire, dashboard of fire and cushions of fire,
drawn by horses with nostris of fire, and
names Of fire, and launches Of fire, and hoofs
of fre-a supernatural appearance that could
not be seen with the natural eye. So the old
minister prayed that the young minister
might see them also, and the prayer was an
swered, and the Lord opened the eyes of the
young man and he also saw the fiery process
SION, looking somewhat suppose, like the
Adirondacks or the Alleghanies in this au-
tumnal resplendence
Many young men, standing among the
most tremendous realities, have their eyes
half shut or entirely closed May God grant
that my sermon may open wide your ewes TO
tiny.
A mighty defense for q young man is a
good home. Some of my hearers look back
with tender satisfaction to their early home.
1t may have been rude and rustic, hidden
among the hills, and architect or upholsterer
naver planned or adorned it. But all the
freSco on princely walls never looked so en-
tlcing to you as those rough hewn rafters.
You can think of no park or arbor of trees
planted on fashionable country seat so at
tractlve as the plain brook that ran in front
Of the old farmhouses and sang under
the weeping willows. No barred gateway.
adorned with statue of bronze, and swung
open by obsequious porter in full dress. has
half the glory of the swing gate. Many of
you nave a second dwelling place, your
adopted home, that lIlso is sacred forever.
There you built the first family altar There
your children were born. All those trees you
planted. That room is solemn, because once
IN it, over the hot pillow, tapped the wing
of death. Under that roof you expect when
your work is done to lie down and die You
try with many words to tell the excellency
of the place, but you fail. There is only one
word in the language that can describe YOUR
meaning. 1t is home.
Now, declare that young man is COM
paratively safe who goes out into the world
with q charm like this upon him. The mem
ory of parental sol icitude, watching, plan
ming and praying, will be to him shield and
shelter. never knew man faithful both
to his early and adopted home, who at the
same time was given over to any gross form
OF dissipation or wickedness He who seeks
his enjoyment chiefly from outside associa-
ton, rather than f,om the more quiet and
unpresum;ng pleasures of which l have
spoken, may be suspected to be on the broad
road to ruin. Absalom despised his fathers
house, and you know his history of sin and
his death of shame. If you seem unneces-
sarily Isolated from year kindred and former
assoclates, is tnere not some room that you
can call your ownl Into it gather books and
pictures and harp. Have portrait over
the mantel. Make ungodly mirth stand back
from the threshold. Consecrate some spot
with the knee OF prayer. By the memory of
otner days, fathers counsel and mother'a
love, and sister confidence. call it home.
Another defense for young man is indus
trious habit. Many young men, in starting
upon lie IN TINS age, expect to make their
way through the world BY the use of their
wits rather than the toll Of their hands A
child now goes to the city and fails twice be-
lore ne is as Old as his father was when he
nrst saw the spires of the great town. Sit
ting in some office rented at 81 900 a wear.
he is waiting for the bank to declare its divi.
dend, or goes into the market expecting be-
fore night to be made rich by the rushing IN
OF the stocks. But luck seemed so dull he re-
solved on some other tack. Perhaps he bor-
rows from his employers money drawer.
and forgets to put it back, or for merely the
purpose OF improving his penmanship makes
copy plate of a merchants signature. Never
mind, all is right in trade. In some dark
night there may come in his dreams vision
OF Blackwells Isla: d, or of Sing Sing, but
II soon vanishes. In O short time he will
be ready to retire from the busy world.
and amid his focks and herds culture the
domestic virtues. Then those vouno man
who once were his schoolmates, and knew no
better than to engage in honest work, will
come with their OK teams to draw him logs
and with their hard hands help heaye IN his
castle This is no fancy picture. Its every-
nay lie. should not wonder il there were
some rotten beams in that beautiful MALAGA
should not wonder if dire siclnesses should
smite through the young man, or if God
SHOULD pour into his cup OF life draught
that would thrill him with unbearable agony
should not wonder il his children sRouid
become TO him living curse, making his
homea pest and disgrace / should NOT
wonder IL ne goes to miserable grave, and
beyond It into the CRASHING of teeth. The
way OF the ungodly shall perish.
MY young friends, there is no way to gem.
inc success except through toll either Of the
mead or hand. at the battle of ACrecy in
1345 the Prince Of Wales, finding himself
heavily pressed by the enemy. sent word to
ms father for help. The father, watching
the battle from windmill and seeing thai
bis son was not wounded and could gain fine
day if he would sent word; "No: will n ue
come. Let the boy win his spurs. for. If
God will, l desire that this dav he his viii
al us honors." Young man. fight your own
tattle all through and you shall have the
victory. Oh, Il is a battle worth fighting.
Two monarchs Of old fought a duel. Charles
Y. and Francis, and the stakes were king
oomsLAllian and Burgundy You fight with
DO not get the fatal idea that Won arc a
genius, and that therefore there Is no need
OF close application. 1t is here where multi
tudes fail The great curse Of this age is the
geniuses men with enormous self conceit and
egotlsm, and nothing else. ! had rather be
an OK than an eagle; plain, and plodding, ard
useful, rather than high flying and good for
nothing but to pick out the eyes Of carcasses.
extraordinary capacity. without use is extra
ordinary failure. There is no hope for that
person who begins his life resolved 10 live by
MS wits, for the probability is he has NOT
any. 1t as not safe for Adam, even in his
unialien state, to have nothing to do
ana therefore, God commanded him
70 be a fermer and Lorticulturist
he was to dress the garden and
Keep II, and had he and his wife obeyed tie
oIvlne Injunction and been at work, thew
WOULD not have been sauntering under the
Srees and huneeriDg after tibet fruit which
destroyed them and their posterity proof
losItlve Tor all ages TO come that tho-e who
40 not attend to their business are sure 10 Get |
inoo mischief do not know that the prod- |
lSal IN scripture would ever have been re-
eiaiined mad he not given UP his idle habits |
~" -. gone 70 feeding swine for living. SO |
~ sne ant, thou sluggard: consider her ways |
anu De wise, which, having no overseer or |
gu,ae, proyideth her food in the summer and |